The Power Of Partnerships! Rotary Club of Milimani Scholarship PROJECT
On 24th May 2019, the Rotary Club of Milimani had its annual Charity Golf to raise funds for its Scholarship signature project. The club in its 32nd year after being chartered on 3rd June 1988 began the project over twenty years ago and gives secondary school and vocational training scholarships to deserving children. The Club’s Scholarship Fund is mainly supported by funds raised from the Annual Charity Golf Tournament.
Other sources of support include; fundraising efforts by club members, donations and contributions from friends, corporates, partners and other well-wishers. The year fundraiser was special. We had support, both locally and international. During the Rotary Convention in Hamburg Germany, we were able to raise funds and had a subsequent match that doubled the amount. Special mention goes to Rotary International Past President (RIPP) Kalyan Banerjee who is also Past Chairman of the Rotary Foundation and Past District Governor D9212, Geeta Manek who graced the occasion.
The cheque handover was facilitated by Rotarian Nayan Patel, Global Advisor, Rotary India Literacy Mission (RILM). As a friend, he donated to the Scholarship Fund USD 500 which was equally matched by the Scholarship Annual Golf Chair, Rotarian Sammy Itemere; bringing the total amount to USD 1,000. What a happy moment and the power of matching. Of the USD 11,500 raised, matching would have supported the projected for another year. The club will continue to engage more partners as there are millions of children in dire need of support.
THE SCHOLARSHIP PROJECT HISTORY
In the late 1990s, the club decided to concentrate on scholarships by sponsoring students from needy and poor backgrounds. Over 80 students have gone through this program to date (current and past); some directly by the club and others through partnerships. This is club’s flagship project.
This was particularly made possible when the financial burden of the primary schooling was removed through the introduction of Free Primary Education by the Government.
Some of the student beneficiaries with teachers, Rotarians and Rotaractors.
CATEGORIES:
- RCM program – purely supported by RCM
- Partnerships Program –Partnerships with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rotary Club of Emsdetten (RCE), Germany in 2007. Others partners include Rotary Clubs of Madaraka, Kampala South and Individual Rotarians.
SUPPORT
- Financial support – School and boarding fees, Pocket money, first time full shopping (some), Laptops (some) and Medicals where applicable.
- Technological support – Renovations and equipping computer laboratories.
- Mentorships – moral support, guidance and counselling and other programs.
FUNDRAISING – THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS
The annual budget is about Kshs.3million (USD30k), ie RCM program Kshs.1million (USD10k) and RCE program Kshs.2million (USD20k). Currently, we have 18 students in various secondary schools and 6 in universities and colleges. 11 girls and the 7 boys
The main avenues include:
- Annual golf tournament
- Well-wishers/friends contributions
- Partnerships
- RCE undertakes an annual fundraising for the Mukuru Projekt Kenia.
- Rotary Club of Madaraka – 2 students
- Rotary Club of Kampala South – 1 student
- Corporates long-term CSR under ‘Adopt a Child.
SUCCESS STORIES
- Touched young lives and made their lives worthwhile.
- First students to get into the program flying the Rotary flag high.
- Fruitful members of the society.
- They also give back to the society.
- Friendships between the students, Rotarians, Rotaractors.
THE FUTURE
- More fundraising activities
- Creation of an Education Trust Fund
- More partnerships
- Alumni support
- More participation from members
Article by Jane Mberia – Past President, Rotary Club of Milimani
